Bill and Helen Norrie Public Library

Inspired by the site’s origins as a Métis settlement called Rooster Town and its dense residential context, the library is perceived as a ‘big house’. With a gable roof and exterior glazing, visitors are greeted by large, high-volume spaces, and sprawling local views. The open library intersects with a dynamic children’s area and multipurpose room, which supports diverse community programming and features switchable smart glass to adjust its opacity. Further blurring the boundaries between indoors and out, the neighborhood ‘living room’ joins to the library’s front porch through a double-sided gas fireplace, allowing visitors to relax on either side year-round. A strong emphasis is placed on educating visitors about the neighborhood’s Rooster Town roots, depicted in the perforated story walls at the north entrance, bright murals, and archived audio recording stations.